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LONDON — Britain, Germany and the Netherlands urged their citizens yesterday to leave the Libyan
city of Benghazi immediately, citing an imminent threat to Westerners months after an assault on
the U.S. mission there killed four Americans.

None of the countries would elaborate on the intelligence that prompted the advisory, but
Britain’s Foreign Office said it was “aware of a specific and imminent threat.”

The stark warning came a day after Secretary of State Hillary Clinton testified before Congress
about the Sept. 11 attack in Benghazi that killed U.S. Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens and three
other Americans. Concern over terrorist activity in the region has risen in light of French
intervention in Mali to counter Islamic militants and the just-concluded hostage crisis in Algeria,
in which more than 30 foreigners were abducted and slain by Muslim radicals.

Italy last week suspended activity at its Benghazi mission and pulled out diplomatic staff after
a gun attack on its consul, who was traveling in a heavily armored car and was not injured.

The Dutch Foreign Ministry also had issued a bulletin on Monday noting the danger of traveling
to Benghazi and its environs. Yesterday, the ministry advised all Dutch nationals to vacate the
city.

Germany issued a similar alert.

The U.S. State Department reiterated its advice to avoid travel to Benghazi but did not cite any
new intelligence.

“Although there is no specific information pointing to specific, imminent threats against U.S.
citizens, the potential for violence and kidnappings targeting Westerners in Benghazi is
significant,” the department said.

After the British announcement, a Libyan official expressed surprise at the ramped-up security
warning.

“We acknowledge that there are security problems in Benghazi and that there have been for
several months, but there is no new intelligence that could justify this reaction from London,”
Deputy Interior Minister Abdullah Massoud said.